Method and apparatus for switching in a TDD system
View Patent ↗A method of switching a communication device between an uplink communication path and a downlink communication path is provided. The method measures a power level of signals on at least one radio frequency for one of the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path. The measured power level is compared with a threshold power level. Switching between an uplink circuit and a downlink circuit is based on the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level.
1. A method of switching a communication device between an uplink communication path and a downlink communication path, the method comprising:
measuring a power level of signals on at least one radio frequency for one of the uplink communication path and downlink communication path;
comparing the measured power level with a threshold power level in order to determine if the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path; and
when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path:
performing a verification process to confirm that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path;
switching between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path if the verification process confirms that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path; and
not switching between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path if the verification process does not confirm that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path if the measured power level is less than or equal to the threshold power level.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verification process comprises continuing to compare the measured power level with the threshold power level for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the verification process fails if, during the predetermined amount of time, the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level does not indicate that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path and otherwise the verification process succeeds.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verification process comprises comparing a time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path with a known possible transmission boundary, wherein the verification process fails if the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does not match the known possible transmission boundary and wherein the verification process succeeds if the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does match the known possible transmission boundary.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein comparing the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path with the known possible transmission boundary comprises: measuring a length of a subframe; and comparing the measured length to a known possible subframe length.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verification process comprises performing two verifications process, wherein a first verification process comprises: continuing to compare the measured power level with the threshold power level for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the first verification process fails if, during the predetermined amount of time, the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level does not indicate that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path and otherwise the first verification process succeeds;
wherein a second verification process comprises: comparing a time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path with a known possible transmission boundary, wherein the verification process fails if the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does not match the known possible transmission boundary and wherein the verification process succeeds if the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does match the known possible transmission boundary,
wherein the first and second verification processes are performed in at least one of in parallel and contiguously; and
wherein the verification process succeeds if either of the first and second verification process succeeds and the verification process fails if neither of the first and second verification process succeeds.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the measured power level to a threshold power level compares the measure power level to a threshold power level determined by:
measuring an on power level of signals on the at least one radio frequency when transmissions are present on the at least one radio frequency;
measuring an off power level of signals on the at least one radio frequency when transmissions are not present on the at least one radio frequency; and
setting the threshold power level at a point between the on power level and the off power level.
8. An apparatus for switching between uplink and downlink transmission circuits, the apparatus comprising:
a switch having a first port coupled to an uplink circuit, and a second port coupled to a downlink circuit;
a power level detector configured to measure a power level of signals propagating through the switch;
a comparator configured to compare the measured power level to a threshold power level; and
a processing device configured to control the switch based on the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level;
wherein the processing device is further configured to do the following when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the switch should switch between an uplink communication path and a downlink communication path:
perform a verification process to confirm that the switch should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path;
switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path if the verification process confirms that the switch should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path; and
not switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path if the verification process does not confirm that the switch should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the comparator is configured to determine when the measured power level is less than or equal to the threshold power level, wherein the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path if the measured power level is less than or equal to the threshold power level.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the verification process comprises continuing to compare the measured power level with the threshold power level for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the verification process fails if, during the predetermined amount of time, the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level does not indicate that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path and otherwise the verification process succeeds.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the verification process comprises comparing a time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path with a known possible transmission boundary, wherein the verification process fails if the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does not match the known possible transmission boundary and wherein the verification process succeeds if the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does match the known possible transmission boundary.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein comparing the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path with the known possible transmission boundary comprises: measuring a length of a subframe; and comparing the measured length to a known possible subframe length.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the verification process comprises performing two verifications process, wherein a first verification process comprises: continuing to compare the measured power level with the threshold power level for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the first verification process fails if, during the predetermined amount of time, the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level does not indicate that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path and otherwise the first verification process succeeds;
wherein a second verification process comprises: comparing a time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path with a known possible transmission boundary, wherein the verification process fails if the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does not match the known possible transmission boundary and wherein the verification process succeeds if the time when the comparison between the measured power level and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does match the known possible transmission boundary,
wherein the first and second verification processes are performed in at least one of in parallel and contiguously; and
wherein the verification process succeeds if either of the first and second verification process succeeds and the verification process fails if neither of the first and second verification process succeeds.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the power level detector is configured to do at least one of:
measure the power level of signals that are coupled to a common connection of the switch; and
measure the power level of downlink signals before the downlink signals reach the switch.
15. A communication system comprising:
a plurality of remote antenna units communicatively coupled to a plurality of wireless terminals;
at least one hub communicatively coupled to the plurality of remote antenna units, the at least one hub configured to communicatively couple signals between a base station and the plurality of remote antenna units, the at least one hub further comprising:
a switch having a common connection, a first switched connection, and a second switched connection;
an uplink circuit coupled to the first switched connection and configured to receive signals from the plurality of wireless terminals;
a downlink circuit coupled the second switched connection and configured to transmit signals to the plurality of wireless terminals;
a duplexing circuit connected to the common connection and configured to transmit and receive signals from the base station; and
a processing device configured to compare a power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and a threshold power level in order to determine if the switch should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection;
wherein the processing device is further configured to do the following when the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the switch should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection:
if the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the switch should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection:
perform a verification process to confirm that the switch should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection;
switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection if the verification process confirms that the switch should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection; and
not switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection if the verification process does not confirm that the switch should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection.
16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a power level detector configured to measure a power level of signals in the duplexing circuit;
a comparator configured to compare the measured power level to a threshold power level; and
wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the switch based on the comparison of the measured power level and the threshold power level.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the comparator is configured to send an interrupt signal to the processing device when the measured power level reaches the threshold power level.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processing device is configured to wait an amount of time after receiving an interrupt and before changing a position of the switch to verify that no more interrupts are received.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processing device is configured to control the switch based on a comparison between the time that the power level of signals on the duplexing circuit reaches a threshold power level and a time period of a transmission structure.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the comparison between the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the switch should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection if the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit is less than or equal to the threshold power level.
21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the verification process comprises continuing to compare the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit with the threshold power level for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the verification process fails if, during the predetermined amount of time, the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level does not indicate that the communication device should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection and otherwise the verification process succeeds.
22. The system of claim 15 , wherein the verification process comprises comparing a time when the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection with a known possible transmission boundary, wherein the verification process fails if the time when the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection does not match the known possible transmission boundary and wherein the verification process succeeds if the time when the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection does match the known possible transmission boundary.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein comparing the time when the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection with the known possible transmission boundary comprises: measuring a length of a subframe; and comparing the measured length to a known possible subframe length.
24. The system of claim 15 , wherein the verification process comprises performing two verifications process, wherein a first verification process comprises: continuing to compare the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit with the threshold power level for a predetermined amount of time, wherein the first verification process fails if, during the predetermined amount of time, the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level does not indicate that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path and otherwise the first verification process succeeds;
wherein a second verification process comprises: comparing a time when the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection with a known possible transmission boundary, wherein the verification process fails if the time when the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the uplink communication path and the downlink communication path does not match the known possible transmission boundary and wherein the verification process succeeds if the time when the comparison between the power level of signals in the duplexing circuit and the threshold power level indicates that the communication device should switch between the first switched connection and the second switched connection does match the known possible transmission boundary,
wherein the first and second verification processes are performed in at least one of in parallel and contiguously; and
wherein the verification process succeeds if either of the first and second verification process succeeds and the verification process fails if neither of the first and second verification process succeeds.